[patio11]

Once is chance, twice is coincidence, third time is enemy action ^H^H^H an opportunity to improve your business practices.

1) You appear to have been working for startups with no money. There is a word for devs who work for startups with no money. It is "technical cofounder." If a startup does not have sufficient money in the bank to pay you, tell them you're happy to continue the conversation after they have raised money.

2) Startups with money in the bank are frequently amenable to e.g. 25% deposits for first-time clients. You can even offer them a trade: 25% deposit means they get scheduling predictability, otherwise the engagement happens subject to your availability, and -- since we're all businessmen here -- we're all clear that in case of conflicting desires about scheduling the client willing to pay a deposit wins.

3) Your computer just developed a really strange bug where elaborate excuses in emails regarding payment cause it to shut down and not be able to boot until your bank says the check cleared.